Spring Sports

The BHS Girls Soccer Team Shown from left to right; Back Row: Saray Chaparro, Ingrid Flores, Leslie Sanchez, Defne Mariscal, Brandi Mendoza, Yoselyn Ojeda. Middle Row: Aaliyah Quinones, Stefania Juarez, Marielos Vega, Cristagie Zambele, Erika Mendoza, Gabriela Lucha, Layla Garcia, Estefania Ayala, Noemi Munoz, Ashley Gil. Front Row: Samantha Marquez, Maria Elena Dominguez, Camila de la Cruz, Mayary Dominguez, Yanlie Orriola, Xitlayaris Marquez, Daisy Gil, Andrea Esquivel, Nanci Guerrero.

Familiar face is new soccer coach

It did not take long for the Beardstown girls’ soccer team to get to know their new head coach and vice versa as long-time assistant Francisco Hernandez slides into the top spot this year. Hernandez takes over for Adam Hamilton just as he did in the fall for the boys’ program.  Hamilton was the head coach from the program’s inception in 2013 and he and Hernandez had slowly built the Tigers into a winner. Beardstown went 11-4-5 last year, their second consecutive winning season after eight straight losing seasons for the fledgling program. The Tigers will have to replace several key contributors from last year but have plenty of talented players ready.

Front row (L-R): Brooklyn Beck, Maggie Parlier, Lindy Parlier, Mylee Tracy, Sophya Ogden Back row (L-r): Rilyn Waid, Addison Rohn, Rhiannon Lovekamp, Gabby Myers, Raye Greenstreet, Lucie Dion Coaches: Ty Gebhardt, Assistants: Kristy Gebhardt and Dean Werries

Lady Trojans low on numbers, not expectations

Despite having just thirteen players and one senior Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia Head Softball Coach Ty Gebhardt likes what he has going on with this year’s Lady Trojan squad. Along with Assistant Coaches Kristy Gebhardt, Dean Werries, and Jeff Bennett, he will have to replace some very talented players from last year’s 15-12 team, but he feels as though he has plenty of talent to do so.

The BHS Softball Team shown from left to right; Front Row: Abby Krohe, Monse Montoya, Daisy Gomez, Vanessa Nunez, Kylynn Maltby, Cami Coats. Back Row: Addi McClenning, Perri Herzog, Lauren Coats, Autumn Bowman, Hallie Lawson, Shelby Goodrich, Bella Palmer.

Defense key for Lady Tigers

Third year Head Softball Coach Kaitlyn Dodson expects the Beardstown Lady Tiger defense to be a strong point of this year’s squad. Coming off a nice 19-12 season last year, following an un-Lady Tiger-like 12-15 season in 2021-2022, Dodson will have to replace several key pieces from last year’s team. She will have an oddly constructed roster at her disposal to do so, as the Tigers are comprised of only juniors and sophomores with no seniors or freshman.  

Porta Bluejays

High hopes for Bluejay Baseball

Returning all but three players from last year’s sixteen-win team, this year’s PORTA-AC Central baseball team has high hopes for the season. Head Coach Brett Leischner along with assistants Doug Blakeman, Rick King, Devon Roach, Jared Canterbury, and Dave Leischner are eager to build on a successful 2023 campaign. Coach Leischner knows it won’t be easy but feels the pieces are there to push towards twenty wins, improve on a 4-4, fifth place conference finish and make some hay in the postseason. According to Leischner, “there are high internal expectations this season.  The schedule is very competitive, and the Sangamo Conference is one of the best small school conferences in the state. This year could prove to be a great one if we can stay healthy and pull together as a team.”

Porta Bluejays

Lady Jays are on the rise

With their top three hitters and their top pitcher returning from last year’s 16-13 team, the PORTA-AC Central Lady Bluejays are looking to take the next step forward this season. Fourth year Coach Andrew Biermann (39-33 overall record) and asistants Mike Logsdon and Kassidy Johnson are hoping to improve on a 4-4 record and fifth place finish in the Sangamon Conference, push towards the twenty-win mark and make some postseason noise.

The BHS Baseball Team shown from left to right; Front Row: Parker Bell, Josh Camas, Gustavo Cortes, Colby DeSollar, Zach DeSollar, Victor Solano,Peter Garrido, Parker McCoy, Trey Riddell. Back Row: Guillermo Hernandez, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ryder Hamlin, Payton McCoy, Caleb Hobrock, Bradyn Alhorn, Ethan Heller, Tanner Riddell, Zach Meyer

Youth movement for Tiger Baseball

A youth movement is at hand for the Beardstown baseball program. The Tigers have to replace seven departed seniors from last year’s somewhat disappointing 12-16 squad in Head Coach Brian Dour’s debut season. Beardstown is not used to having losing seasons in baseball so expect Coach Dour, his staff and the boys to put in the work required to make sure it does not happen again. He will do so with just two seniors at his disposal and a host of sophomores and freshmen expected to play significant roles.

The Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia Baseball Team shown from left to right; Front row: Logan Vanmeter, Sam Miller, Ian Stock, Brock York, Razon Vega, Joey Carpenter. Back row: Gameli White, Cooper Parrish, Austin Strubbe, Andrew Hobrock, Evan Bell, Grant Fricke, Carter Lakamp. Not Pictured: Coby Masters and Jacob Cook.

Everyone is back for Trojans Baseball

Despite having no seniors, Head Coach Rich Thompson and Assistant Adam Brockhouse led last years Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia baseball team to an 11-15 record. With everyone returning, expectations are much higher this year.  Sophomore Grant Fricke did not play like a freshman last year, going 4-3 with a 1.85 ERA on the mound and hitting .398 with 17 RBI and 24 runs scored and will play a major role this year. Sophomore Cooper Parrish returns behind the plate after hitting .328 with 17 RBI, senior Austin Strubbe is back at third base and hit .279 with 22 RBI and 14 runs and Senior Evan Bell can play about

The BHS Boys Track Team from left to right; CJ Evans, Marcos Laurencio, Julian Mpopo, Ryan Shaw, Josh Severino, David Montoya, Christy Domitien, Gavin Epping, Jordy Kanda, Chris Tchaklizo, Gerardo Ruiz Gonzalez, Martin Pineda, Bryan Islas, Karim Gomez, Joel Sosa. Not Pictured: Darren Lopez, Jared Perez, Deyvi Javier, Abraham Diaz, Vincent Sweeny, Brady Silva, Junior Gil.

Good numbers for BHS Track

With numbers up, Beardstown Girl’s Track Coach Jacki Kelly is looking forward to being able to fill out full relay teams and to having girls competing in most events this year. Four girls return from last year, several girls are coming up from middle school and a few new faces have joined the squad to fill out the roster. The team will be young but talented.  Coach Kelly commented, “we are looking for Diana Huerta to have another great season after being a state qualifier as a freshman in the long jump and triple jump and we are planning to see great things from Freshman Laetitia Kanda, who was a state qualifier in middle school in the high jump.”  Freshmen Rosalba Quintana and Ayelen Gabriel along with Junior Mia Playan should make the girls competitive in the distance races. Freshman Stella Petersen will join Sophomore

The Virginia-Triopia-Meredosia Track Team is shown from left to right; Front Row:Ashton Stanberry , Jersey Henson , Adelea Anderson , Olivia Hughes , Keylie Degroot, Marilyn Berends. Middle Row:Faith Wingert , Olivia Luttrell, Destinee Lund, Shariya Randall, Ta’Shia Allen, Sophya Ogden, Peyton Petefish, Ava Petefish. Back Row: Dylan Grinle, Brady Seymour, Nate Doyle, Cooper Pahlman, Jack Parlier, Braden Hudson, Jonathan eveland, Alex Schild.

Virginia-Triopia-Meredosia Track Team is solid

Good numbers and good talent have the Virginia-Triopia-Meredosia track coaches excited about this coming year. Girls Coach Megan Werner, boys Coach Sam Black and Assistant Coach Abbie Link have a great mix of athletes at their disposal this year.